Department for Transport

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the criteria for the allocation of funding on infrastructure for Northern and Midland High Speed 2.

Paul Maynard: The 2015 Spending Review reconfirmed the Government’s commitment to the programme providing a long-term funding envelope of £55.7bn in 2015 prices. Of this £28.55bn was allocated to Phase Two. This allocation includes funding for infrastructure for the Northern and Midlands sections of High Speed 2. The funding has been allocated in order to deliver the benefits, including those for the North and Midlands, as set out in the Strategic, Economic and Financial cases for Phase Two, most recently published in July 2017. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/high-speed-rail-west-midlands-to-crewe-bill

Midland Main Railway Line: Electrification

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the environmental effect of scrapping the electrification of the Midland Mainline.

Paul Maynard: Passengers expect high quality rail services and we are committed to electrification where it delivers passenger benefits and value for money for the taxpayer, but we will also take advantage of state of the art new technology to improve journeys. In line with the Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) processes for appraising transport investments, an economic appraisal including the environmental impacts has been carried out, using the DfT’s Transport Analysis Guidance and incorporating DEFRA guidance on transport related environmental impacts. Using this methodology, environmental benefits (including noise, local air quality, and greenhouse gasses) are assessed over a 60 year appraisal period.CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre on Great Britain’s railways are now at a record low and have fallen by nearly 29% since 2005/06. We expect the new bi-mode trains to deliver a better environmental performance than the existing diesel trains on the Midland Mainline and therefore contribute to further improving this record.

Roads: Litter

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to introduce a key performance indicator for litter in the Road Investment Strategy.

Jesse Norman: We are in the process of developing the second Road Investment Strategy with Highways England.

Home Office

Asylum

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps she has taken to ensure that decisions on asylum support applications are made as quickly as possible.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to the Hon. Member for Birmingham Hall Green on 11 September 2017, UIN 8672.

Asylum

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of whether the decision-making process on asylum support applications is sufficiently transparent.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given the Hon. Member for Bristol West on 20 July 2017, 5403.

Immigration: Republic of Ireland

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Irish citizens living in the UK will be entitled to residency without new restrictions or requirements when the UK leaves the EU.

Brandon Lewis: The UK and Ireland enjoy a unique relationship that predates both countries’ membership of the EU. The close historic, social and cultural ties between the UK and Ireland have led to the creation of reciprocal rights for respective nationals when in the other state, distinct from those enjoyed by virtue of common membership of the EU.Leaders in the UK and Ireland have confirmed their commitment to protecting these rights for British and Irish nationals which include the right to enter and remain, the right to work and to study and access to social welfare entitlements and benefits.

Seasonal Workers

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will commission the Migration Advisory Committee to produce an interim report on seasonal workers.

Brandon Lewis: The Migration Advisory Committee will report on the economic and social impacts of the UK’s exit from the European Union and on how the UK’s immigration system should be aligned with a modern industrial strategy in September 2018 but may produce interim reports before then.

Refugees: Children

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure the safe passage to the UK of child refugees sleeping rough in Calais who (a) meet the Dublin III Regulation family reunification criteria and (b) could be offered a place by local councils under the Dubs scheme.

Brandon Lewis: The primary responsibility for unaccompanied children in France lies with the French authorities. It is vital that children claim asylum in France rather than risking their lives by attempting to enter the UK illegally. That is the fastest route to safety. The Dublin III Regulation is the mechanism which determines the Member State responsible for the consideration of an asylum claim. In order for an application to be transferred from France to the UK, an asylum seeker must first claim asylum in France, and the French authorities can request to have the claim transferred to the UK. We continue to work closely with France, other EU Member States and partners to ensure the timely and efficient operation of the Dublin III Regulation. We are fully committed to delivering our commitment to transfer the specified number of 480 children under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 (the ‘Dubs Amendment’) and are working very closely with Member States, as well as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NGO partners to identify and transfer children to the UK in line with each individual Member State’s national laws. Children have been transferred from France under section 67 this year and we have received further referrals. More eligible children will be transferred from Europe under the scheme in due course.

Immigration: Fees and Charges

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the equity of the fee to apply for settled status in the UK; and whether she plans to waive the fee for applicants for settled status who are non-UK citizens and who apply because the UK is leaving the EU.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office firmly believes that the application fee to settle in the United Kingdom (UK) is fair and is representative of the benefits available to those choosing to permanently reside here. Visa, immigration and citizenship fees are set at a level that helps provide resources necessary to operate the border, immigration and citizenship (BIC) system, reducing burden on the UK taxpayer. On 19th October 2017, Theresa May wrote a letter to EU citizens and their family members resident within the UK to reaffirm that citizens’ rights are the first priority, and that we are developing a streamlined digital process for those applying for settled status. The cost of which will be kept as low as possible and will be no more than the cost of a UK passport. The Prime Minister's letter is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pms-open-letter-to-eu-citizens-in-the-uk

Asylum: Applications

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2017 to Question 108430, on asylum, how many decision makers her Department aims to maintain using rolling recruitment.

Brandon Lewis: The number of Decision Makers are maintained at a level that allows the Home Office to progress cases in line with service standards. All asylum claims lodged in the UK are carefully considered on their individual merits against a background of relevant case law and up to date country information.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Israel: West Bank

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of Palestinian structures demolished by Israel in Area C of the West Bank that have received funding from the (a) UK, (b) EU and (c) UN.

Alistair Burt: The UK has not directly funded any structures in recent years that have been demolished by the Israeli Government.According to the EU, 155 Palestinian structures, including 67 in Area C, were demolished or seized in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) over the period 1 March to 31 August 2017.39 structures funded by the EU or its member states were demolished or seized throughout the West Bank in the same period. A further 34 EU funded structures were demolished in January and February. We have no numbers for how many UN funded structures have been demolished or seized in the same period of time.

El Salvador: Abortion

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what guidance his Department provides to his officials in El Salvador when discussing the Government's policies on abortion with representatives of that country's Government.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK Government’s policy on abortion, as enshrined in UK law, is a matter of public record. We deplore and condemn the Government of El Salvador’s treatment of women who have miscarried. These views are regularly expressed at Ambassadorial and Ministerial level.​

Israel: West Bank

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterparts on compensation for the demolition of UK-funded Palestinian structures in Area C of the West Bank.

Alistair Burt: ​The UK has not directly funded any structures in recent years that have been demolished by the Israeli Government. We are keeping the case for compensation under review. The UK is focused on preventing demolitions from happening through our funding to the Norwegian Refugee Council legal aid programme which helps residents challenge decisions in the Israeli legal system.

Climate Change Convention

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has recently taken to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Mark Field: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office supports international implementation of the Paris Agreement through our ministers, diplomatic network and the Foreign Secretary’s Climate Change Envoy. This includes pressing for continued political commitment, providing advice and assistance to other countries in meeting their Nationally Determined Contributions, and promoting UK best practice. Building on the Government’s climate policy framework, the Clean Growth Strategy has given us a further set of policies to action and influence others.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports his Department has received on the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in recruiting Afghan refugees and child soldiers to fight in Syria and Iraq.

Alistair Burt: ​We are aware of reports of Afghan refugees and child soldiers being recruited for deployment in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, but the detail is difficult to verify given the environment on the ground. The UK is committed to ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers and protecting children affected by armed conflict.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the extent of control exercised by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps over key elements of Iran's economy.

Alistair Burt: Whilst it is clear that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has direct and indirect links with many parts of the Iranian economy, assessing beneficial ownership is complex as management structures are often deliberately opaque. We are pressing Iran to undertake economic reforms, including to address this lack of transparency.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will take steps to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

Alistair Burt: ​The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is already subject to EU sanctions in its entirety and a large number of individuals and entities are designated because of their support for, or links to, the IRGC. Listings fall under the EU's proliferation and human rights sanctions regimes relating to Iran, as well as under the EU Syria sanctions regime.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the extent and effectiveness of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Middle East.

Alistair Burt: ​Iran is known to be involved in multiple regional conflicts, including through deploying the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and associated entities such as the IRGC Qods Force. The Government is clear that Iran should cease disruptive involvement in regional conflicts, and should instead look to play a constructive role.

Saudi Arabia: Capital Punishment

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2017 to Question 107296, on Saudi Arabia: capital punishment, of how many cases reported in the media his Department is aware.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is aware of a number of human rights cases, including people facing the death penalty, in Saudi Arabia. In death penalty cases, we do all we can to ascertain the facts. We continue to monitor cases closely and raise them with the Saudi authorities at every possible opportunity. I raised our human rights concerns with Saudi authorities during my visit to Riyadh on 15 October. We receive a number of representations on these issues from a variety of human rights NGOs, and we do not shy away from raising human rights concerns and believe we will be more successful in effecting change by discussing cases privately with Saudi Arabia than through public criticism. Saudi Arabia remains a Foreign and Commonwealth Office human rights priority country.

Saudi Arabia: Capital Punishment

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2017 to Question 107296, on Saudi Arabia: capital punishment, what assessment he has made of the factual basis for those media reports; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is aware of a number of human rights cases, including people facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. In death penalty cases , we do all we can to ascertain the facts. We continue to monitor cases closely and raise them with the Saudi authorities at every possible opportunity. Most recently I raised our human rights concerns with Saudi authorities during my visit to Riyadh on 15 October. We receive a number of representations on these issues from a variety of human rights NGOs, and we do not shy away from raising human rights concerns and believe we will be more successful in effecting change by discussing cases privately with Saudi Arabia than through public criticism. Saudi Arabia remains a Foreign & Commonwealth Office human rights priority country.

Saudi Arabia: Capital Punishment

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2017 to Question 107296, on Saudi Arabia: capital punishment, what representations his Department has received from third parties and non-governmental organisations on such cases.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is aware of a number of human rights cases, including people facing the death penalty, in Saudi Arabia. In death penalty cases, we do all we can to ascertain the facts. We continue to monitor cases closely and raise them with the Saudi authorities at every possible opportunity. I raised our human rights concerns with Saudi authorities during my visit to Riyadh on 15 October. We receive a number of representations on these issues from a variety of human rights NGOs, and we do not shy away from raising human rights concerns and believe we will be more successful in effecting change by discussing cases privately with Saudi Arabia than through public criticism. Saudi Arabia remains a Foreign & Commonwealth Office human rights priority country.

Saudi Arabia: Capital Punishment

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2017 to Question 107296, on Saudi Arabia: capital punishment, what recent representations he has made to his Saudi counterpart on the alleged use of torture to extract confessions.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is aware of a number of human rights cases, including people facing the death penalty, in Saudi Arabia. In death penalty cases, we do all we can to ascertain the facts. We continue to monitor cases closely and raise them with the Saudi authorities at every possible opportunity. I raised our human rights concerns with Saudi authorities during my visit to Riyadh on 15 October. We receive a number of representations on these issues from a variety of human rights NGOs, and we do not shy away from raising human rights concerns and believe we will be more successful in effecting change by discussing cases privately with Saudi Arabia than through public criticism. Saudi Arabia remains a Foreign & Commonwealth Office human rights priority country.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Malaria

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of growing drug resistance upon the globally-agreed target of reducing malaria cases and deaths by 40 per cent by 2020.

Alistair Burt: Our assessment is that drug resistance, along with insecticide resistance, pose a real threat to the recent progress seen on malaria. This is why DFID is a leading global funder of efforts to tackle malaria, through research funding, bilateral treatment and control programmes and our funding to multilateral institutions such as the Global Fund. This support includes developing new drugs in response to current levels of drug resistance. We also support drug management programmes that decrease the chances of resistance building up, and other measures of tackling malaria, such as the use of bednets.

Department for Education

ICT: GCSE

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students were entered for a GCSE in (a) Computer Science or (b) Information Technology in each of the last four years.

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students not in receipt of free school meals were entered for a GCSE Information Technology in each of the last four years.

Nick Gibb: The proportion of all pupils[1] [2], who were at the end of key stage 4, who entered for (a) Computer Science and (b) Information Technology are attached. The proportion of all pupils[1] [2], who were at the end of key stage 4, not eligible for free school meals[3] and were entered for a GCSE in Information Technology are attached. Pupil characteristics information will be published, for the year 2016/17, in January 2018. Based on pupils at the end of key stage 4, who sat an exam in GCSE (excluding equivalents) in Computer Science or Information Technology. Pupils are identified as being at the end of key stage 4 if they were on roll at the school and in year 11 at the time of the January school census for that year. Age is calculated as at 31 August for that year, and the majority of pupils at the end of key stage 4 were age 15 at the start of the academic year. Some pupils may complete this key stage in an earlier or later year group.On roll at a state-funded school which includes academies, free schools, city technology colleges, further education colleges with provision for 14- to 16-year-olds (further education sector colleges were included in secondary school performance tables from 2015) and state-funded special schools. They exclude independent schools, independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, hospital schools, pupil referral units and alternative provision.As recorded in the school census for that year. Includes pupils not eligible for free school meals (FSM) and for whom FSM eligibility was unclassified or could not be determined.



Table for 108811 & 108812
(Excel SpreadSheet, 13.8 KB)

STEM Subjects: Females

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to increase the number of girls participating in STEM subjects after the age of 16.

Nick Gibb: The number of girls taking science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) A Levels has increased by 20% since 2010 and we are closing the gap between males and females in some subjects (chemistry, biology, mathematics and computing). The Department recognises that we need to do more to increase the number of girls participating in STEM subjects. The Department runs a number of projects to improve participation. For example, we are funding the Stimulating Physics Network to improve the take up of A level physics, particularly by girls. The Department announced a new Level 3 Maths Support Programme, worth £16m over two years, which will be required to raise the participation of girls in A level mathematics and further mathematics, and we continue to fund support to schools to improve the quality of teaching in mathematics, computing and science in primary and secondary schools. The Department is taking action to improve STEM participation throughout the education pipeline. For example, in Higher Education we have seen applications from women to engineering, computer science and maths degrees rise since 2013 but, we know there is more that we can do. From the 2018/19 academic year, we are introducing maintenance loans available for part-time undergraduate students to help with living costs, which we anticipate will help widen participation. We are raising awareness amongst children of the range of careers that science and technical qualifications offer, and providing stimulating scientific activities to increase their interest in STEM subjects. This includes the STEM Ambassadors programme, a nationwide network of over 30,000 volunteers, 42% of whom are women, from a range of employers, who work with schools across the UK.

World War II: Genocide

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she of officials in her Department have had with relevant stakeholders on improving the continuing professional development and understanding of teachers in Holocaust education.

Nick Gibb: Department officials have regular discussions as part of programme monitoring arrangements, with University College London’s Centre for Holocaust Education (CfHE), which receives funding to provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for 1100 teachers in England each year. This programme is jointly funded with the Pears Foundation, and my Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State is meeting Sir Trevor Pears on 2 November. In addition to CPD events, the CfHE produces teaching resources and lesson plans which are continually reviewed, improved and expanded. The Beacon Schools element of the programme develops hubs which serve a network of local schools, advocate to other schools for better Holocaust education, develop and share improved schemes of work, and will partner with the CfHE to improve teaching standards. The Department also funds the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ programme for pupils and teachers. Officials have regular meetings with the Holocaust Education Trust who run this. The Lessons from Auschwitz Project aims to increase knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust for young people and to clearly highlight what can happen if prejudice and racism become acceptable.

Further Education: Loans

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will assess the potential merits of making affordable loans available to further education colleges in order to stimulate investment in the estate of such colleges.

Anne Milton: Further education colleges are independent and can access commercial loans and funding from the Local Growth Fund to invest in their estates. The Government is providing financial support to colleges undergoing restructuring following Area Reviews. Through the Restructuring Facility there may be the opportunity to access additional investment by creating sustainable institutions. There are no plans to provide further loan facilities.

Ministry of Justice

Young Offenders

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of young offenders aged 10 to 14 (a) was sent to a young offender institute and (b) received rehabilitative programmes in each year from 2010 to present.

Dr Phillip Lee: Young people aged 10 to 14 year olds who are sentenced to custody by virtue of their age are not placed in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs), YOIs accommodate only young males who are aged 15-17 years old. Young male or females aged 10 to 14 years old sentenced to custody will either be placed in a Secure Children’s Home (SCH) or a Secure Training Centre (STC).The table below shows the number of occasions young people were sentenced to a Youth Rehabilitation Order as a proportion of total cautions and convictions given to young people aged 10 to 14 from the year ending March 2010 to the year ending March 2016. Table 1 Year ending March 2010201120122013201420152016b) Youth Rehabilitation Order12%13%13%16%11%11%13% Table 2 below shows (a) number of occasions young people aged 10 to 14 were sent to custody as a proportion of total cautions and convictions given to young people aged 10 to 14 and (b) number of occasions young people were sentenced to a Youth Rehabilitation Order as a proportion of total cautions and convictions given to young people aged 10 to 14 from the year ending March 2010 to the year ending March 2016 Table 2 Year ending March2010201120122013201420152016a) Sentenced to custody (SCH or STC)1%1%1%2%1%1%2%b) Sentenced to Youth Rehabilitation Order12%13%13%16%11%11%13%Please note:Young people aged 10 to 14 cannot be placed in Young Offender Institutions if sentenced to custody and are instead placed in Secure Children's Homes (10 - 14 year olds) or Secure Training Centres (12 - 14 year olds), therefore the proportion of occasions young offenders aged 10 to 14 sent to a Young Offender Institution is 0%. The data has been sourced from the Youth Justice Board’s JMIS database using case level data from Youth Offending Teams. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Pay

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on lifting the public sector pay cap for members of the armed forces.

Mark Lancaster: The Secretary of State for Defence has not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on lifting the public sector pay cap for members of the Armed Forces.

Department for Work and Pensions

Unemployed People: Flexible Support Fund and Travel Cards

Lesley Laird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobseekers who have been claiming universal credit or jobseeker's allowance for more than 13 weeks in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK have applied for (i) a jobcentre plus travel discount card and (ii) the Flexible Support Fund.

Lesley Laird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobseekers who have been claiming universal credit or jobseeker's allowance for more than 13 weeks in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK have who have applied for (i) a jobcentre plus travel discount card and (ii) the Flexible Support Fund, have had their application rejected.

Damian Hinds: The questions above have been split in order that we can provide specifics where possible: Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card:Jobcentre Plus does not collate data on the number of jobseekers who have applied for the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card –this information could only be obtained through scrutiny of individual jobseeker records– or the number of rejected applications. However usage of the scheme can be monitored via a monthly stock level report. For the period 30 September 2016 to 29 September 2017 a total of 16,185 cards have been replenished in Jobcentre sites nationally. Of those 907 were for Scotland (6%) Over the 12 months period, the currently weekly usage average is calculated at 286 nationally. These figures represent stock ordering, and as such do not automatically equate to the number of cards issued. Flexible Support Fund: Use of FSF provision is at the discretion of work coaches who can use the provision for removing a range of barriers to employment and/or moving jobseekers closer to employment. As jobseekers do not apply directly for FSF there is no rejection, therefore this information is not readily available. There would be a disproportionate cost in undertaking this activity.

Universal Credit: St Helens North

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the (a) number of families in receipt of universal credit in St Helens North from April 2018 and (b) proportion who will receive their full payment within six weeks of universal credit rollout.

Damian Hinds: A) The information is not currently available as it will be new claims only.B) The data published on 15 September 2017 shows that, nationally, 81% of new full service claims received their first payment in full and on time. The published data can be found here. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-payment-timeliness-january-to-june-2017

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Trade Agreements

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many officials employed in his Department in June 2016 had substantial experience of international trade negotiation.

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many officials employed in his Department as of 12 October 2017 have substantial experience of international trade negotiations.

George Eustice: The specific information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Many of the people employed in Defra’s EU and International Trade directorate and in the Great British Food Unit have knowledge and experience of international negotiations, including on securing access to markets. In the last two years we have opened or improved terms for over 200 new markets. Successes include Beef to the Philippines, Lamb to Kuwait and strengthened collaboration frameworks with China and Japan.

Animal Welfare: EU Law

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason the recognition of animals as sentient beings in EU law is not being transferred into UK law in the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill.

George Eustice: I refer the Hon gentleman to the response to PQ105469: “The EU (Withdrawal) Bill will convert the existing body of direct EU animal welfare laws to become UK laws. Most of these EU laws relate to farmed animals and many were passed after Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) came into effect. Article 13 of the TFEU created a qualified obligation on the EU and EU Member States “to have full regard to the welfare of animals [as they are sentient beings]” when formulating and implementing certain EU laws. We are exploring how the ‘animal sentience’ principle of Article 13 can continue to be reflected in the UK when we leave the EU.”

Department for Communities and Local Government

Building Regulations and Fire Safety Independent Review

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he expects the independent review on building regulations and fire safety to publish guidance.

Alok Sharma: It is expected that the review will present an interim report to the Communities Secretary and the Home Secretary before the end of the year, and a final report no later than Spring 2018. The Government will consider and respond to Dame Judith Hackitt’s recommendations.

Grenfell Recovery Taskforce

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the scope is of the Independent Grenfell Recovery Taskforce initial report that is planned for completion by the end of October 2017.

Alok Sharma: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government appointed the independent Grenfell Recovery Taskforce on 26 July 2017 to support and challenge the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea as they develop and implement a long-term recovery plan following the Grenfell Tower fire, and to assure him of progress. He asked the Taskforce to provide an initial report by the end of October. It will include the Taskforce's findings on how the Council is developing and delivering its recovery plan, how it is engaging with the community, its progress in addressing the immediate housing needs arising from the fire and improving housing management, and whether the right leadership and governance arrangements are in place across the Council.

Housing: Solar Power

Mr Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to ensure that solar panels form part of the infrastructure for all new buildings.

Alok Sharma: Regulations and planning reforms encourage the use of renewables without mandating any particular technology. Mandating a particular renewable technology, such as solar panels, may not be appropriate for all building types in all areas. Building regulations are deliberately couched in performance terms, allowing builders, local councils and architects the flexibility to select from a range of renewable energy technologies to suit the potentially unique circumstances of a particular development.

Grenfell Tower: Fires

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 September 2017 to Question 9597, what core materials were found within the 554 samples of aluminium composite material cladding that were tested.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 September 2017 to Question 7185, on high rise flats: fire prevention, if he will publish the results of those tests.

Alok Sharma: The latest complete information on the testing of Aluminium Composite Material cladding samples is contained in the summary advice published on 5 September (available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-programme-update-and-consolidated-advice-for-building-owners-following-large-scale-testing), which sets out the results of screening tests and the seven large-scale system tests conducted over the summer. It includes the numbers of buildings tested, broken down by filler material and type of insulation used.The detailed test results from each of the seven large-scale system tests conducted at the Building Research Establishment are available on the Building Safety Programme webpage at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/building-safety-programme

Leasehold

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to ensure that ground rent rates associated with new build properties designated for low-cost housing and sold on a leasehold basis are proportionate.

Alok Sharma: The Government’s consultation, Tackling Unfair Practices in the Leasehold Market, considered a number of issues within the leasehold sector including the sale of new built leasehold houses, and onerous ground rents. The consultation also sought views on what further areas of leasehold reform should be prioritised and why.The public consultation, which closed on 19 September, received around 6,000 replies. We are carefully analysing the responses, and will issue the Government response shortly.

High Rise Flats

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) high-rise residential buildings over 30 metres in England and (b) flats in those buildings.

Alok Sharma: Holding answer received on 19 October 2017



The Building Safety Programme is in the process of identifying the residential buildings over 18 metres with Aluminium Composite Material cladding. The 18 metres threshold in Approved Document B is the height above which the components of an external wall system should be of limited combustibility. This threshold was chosen because this represents the height at which a fire on an external wall could be tackled from outside the building by the fire service using standard equipment.The latest figures on identified residential buildings over 18 metres are published on the Building Safety Programme webpage at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/building-safety-programme.

Right to Buy Scheme: Housing Associations

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the Government's policy is on implementing a right to buy scheme for tenants of housing association properties in England.

Alok Sharma: Holding answer received on 20 October 2017



I refer my Hon Friend to the answer I gave to Question UIN 3273 on 10 July 2017.

Housing: Construction

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on the previous government's Accelerated Construction programme.

Alok Sharma: The Government is committed to the principles of the Accelerated Construction programme. These principles include using Modern Methods of Construction, partnering with small and medium-sized builders, contractors and others, to increase the pace of construction on surplus public sector land.

Letting Agents

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's report, Protecting consumers in the letting and managing agent market: call for evidence, published in October 2017, if he will place a copy of any impact assessment conducted on the proposals in the call for evidence in the Library.

Alok Sharma: An impact assessment will be provided in due course and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Gazumping

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to take steps to mitigate the adverse effects of the practice of gazumping in the housing market.

Alok Sharma: On 22 October my Department launched a Call for Evidence on the home buying and selling process. We have asked how we should best tackle gazumping, and will develop plans in the light of this feedback.

HM Treasury

Coinage

Keith Vaz: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the reasons are for there being between 400 and 450 million old, round pound coins still in circulation.

Andrew Jones: The process of repatriation of the old £1 coins is still ongoing. Coins are being returned to banks by individuals and businesses every day. We encourage those that still have round £1 coins to now bank or donate them to charity. In all recoinages, a proportion of coin is not returned. We expect that the proportion of round £1 coins removed from circulation to be in line with previous withdrawals of high denomination coins, such as the recoinage of the 50p, which took place between 1997 and 1998.

UK Trade with EU

Matthew Pennycook: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department's paper, The long-term economic impact of EU membership and the alternatives, published on 18 April 2016, still represents his Department's best assessment of the long-term economic impact of some of the potential trading models available to the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Stephen Barclay: Government has undertaken a significant amount of work to assess the economic impacts of leaving the EU. This is part of our continued programme of rigorous and extensive analytical work on a range of scenarios on a sector by sector basis. The Prime Minister has ‎made clear however that the UK aims to agree an ambitious and comprehensive economic partnership with the EU that is of far greater scope and ambition than any existing free trade agreement.

Beer: Excise Duties

Grahame Morris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will freeze beer duty in Budget 2017.

Andrew Jones: The government keeps all taxes under review at fiscal events, and we will consider this issue carefully as part of the Autumn Budget process.

European Investment Bank

Stephen Kinnock: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of not being able to access European Investment Bank funds on infrastructure investment after the UK leaves the EU.

Stephen Barclay: The European Investment Bank (EIB), and its offshoot, the European Investment Fund (EIF), have lent significant amounts to UK infrastructure and growth businesses. It may prove to be in the mutual interest of the UK and the EU to maintain an ongoing relationship between the EIB and UK after the UK has left the EU. The government is looking to explore these options with the EU as part of the negotiations. Whatever the outcome of the negotiations, it is important that UK businesses have access to the finance they need. As the Chancellor set out in his 2017 Mansion House speech, the government will be prepared in case the UK does not maintain a relationship with the Bank.

Working Tax Credit: Glasgow East

David Linden: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people in Glasgow East constituency who are eligible for but do not claim working tax credit payments.

David Linden: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people in Glasgow East constituency who are eligible for but do not claim child tax credit payments.

Elizabeth Truss: The information for Glasgow East is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. HMRC published Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Working Tax Credit (WTC) take up rates 2014 to 2015 on 14th December 2016. This publication is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-benefit-child-tax-credit-ctc-and-working-tax-credit-wtc-take-up-rates-2014-to-2015 Table 9 (page 21) provides information on the CTC take up by region, but not parliamentary constituency. This table includes estimates of the number of entitled non-recipients, and are given as central estimates with upper and lower bounds. There is no equivalent table for WTC.

Treasury: Scientific Advisers

Chi Onwurah: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that its activities are informed by proactive and independent scientific advice; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss: HM Treasury’s Chief Scientific Adviser works closely with the Government Office for Science and its wider network of scientific advisers. In addition, the Second Permanent Secretary is a member of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology. The department also engages regularly with academics, Research Councils and the National Academies to ensure that policy is informed by independent and expert scientific advice.

Department of Health

Community Health Partnerships

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library copies of the external auditors' reports of community health partnerships for each of the last three financial years.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with Community Health Partnerships on that organisation's decision not to use the National Audit Office as auditors.

Mr Philip Dunne: The external auditors reports are included in Community Health Partnerships’ (CHP) annual accounts and these are a publicly available document held by Companies House and published on the CHP website at:http://www.communityhealthpartnerships.co.uk/publication-schemeThe company followed a procurement process in line with its procurement policy by way of competitive tender in which the National Audit Office (NAO) participated but were unsuccessful. Although the NAO is responsible for auditing the financial statements of all central government departments, agencies and other public sector bodies, as a limited company CHP may appoint its own independent auditors.

Health Services

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support the NHS provides to partners of patients who receive a diagnosis.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Clinical commissioning groups are responsible for commissioning services for those individuals who require non-specialised psychological support, including those who may need help as a result of a family illness. Referrals to such services are often made by a person’s general practitioner.

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia

Julia Lopez: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the referral pathway for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Steve Brine: Work is ongoing to help develop pathways of care for patients once a positive diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is made.Public Health England is working with NHS England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, HEART UK and the British Heart Foundation on the development of an implementation guide; expected to be published shortly. The guide is for commissioners and local health economies, and aims to help facilitate the development of local FH services, supporting better identification and management of people and families affected by FH, across England.NHS England and Genomics England are working to reconfigure genetic services in England and this should help ensure that genetic testing is more widely available.

Lipodystrophy

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what training is given to healthcare professionals on the identification, treatment and management of patients with (a) lipid disorders and (b) generalised and partial lipodystrophy.

Steve Brine: Lipid disorders are usually included as part of Diabetes and Endocrinology training, Metabolic Medicine training, and often as part of Chemical Pathology training. Lipodystrophy is a highly specialised area of metabolic medicine, although some training may be included on certain rotations across the country for trainees within Diabetes and Endocrinology training, Metabolic Medicine training, or as part of Chemical Pathology training.

Mental Health Services

Melanie Onn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on delivering the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health recommendation on building the evidence base for specialist housing support for vulnerable people with mental health problems.

Jackie Doyle-Price: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ106931 on 16 October 2017.

Lipodystrophy

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what treatments are approved for use by the NHS for patients diagnosed with generalised and partial lipodystrophy.

Steve Brine: Beyond standard management of diabetes and cardiovascular risk, no specific treatments are approved. However, Leptin is supplied from the Cambridge Severe Insulin Resistance service on a named patient basis, funded through a research trial. NHS England is developing a policy to consider the use of metreleptin for patients with lipodystrophy during 2017/18. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently developing guidance on the use of metreleptin for the treatment of lipodystrophy through its highly specialised technology evaluation programme. NICE currently expects to issue final guidance in September 2018.

Lipodystrophy

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what services are commissioned (a) centrally and (b) locally for the management and treatment of patients diagnosed with generalised or partial lipodystrophy.

Steve Brine: In 2012, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was commissioned as a single Highly Specialised Service for Severe Insulin Resistance service which can assess and treat patients with generalised or partial lipodystrophy from all across England. This is a very rare condition so the national service provides education and advice to services where patients are being treated.

Lipodystrophy

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what patient information and support is available for patients diagnosed with generalised or partial lipodystrophy.

Steve Brine: The national Severe Insulin Resistance service at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has produced patient information sheets which can be found here:https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/publications/Lipodystrophy_v4.pdf

Lipodystrophy

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support is available to patients diagnosed with generalised or partial lipodystrophy who live far away from specialised treatment centres.

Steve Brine: Lipodystrophy is a very rare metabolic condition so the national Severe Insulin Resistance service provides education and advice to services where patients are being treated locally.

Lipodystrophy

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what specialist treatment centres are available in England for the management and treatment of generalised and partial lipodystrophy; and what referral procedures are in place for patients who live far away from such specialist treatment centres.

Steve Brine: Based at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, The National Severe Insulin Resistance Service provides a multidisciplinary National Health Service service for patients with severe insulin resistance and / or lipodystrophy from across England. The service supports both adult and paediatric patients. Patients who meet the relevant criteria can be referred to the service by their treating clinician. Information for referring clinicians, including details of the referral criteria, can be found here:https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/printpdf/pdf-page/3546The Service is happy to accept referrals or to discuss any patients whom it is felt have severe insulin resistance and/or lipodystrophy. It can provide diagnostic (both genetic and biochemical) support in addition to access to funded treatment options including GLP1agonists, U500 insulin, leptin and IGF-I in some patients. The Service also provide specialist dietetic input and diabetes nursing input. Ongoing care is usually shared closely with the referring clinician.

Lipodystrophy

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data is collected by the NHS on the identification and management of patients with (a) metabolic disorders and (b) generalised or partial lipodystrophy.

Steve Brine: There are some of disease specific registries that can be used to identify metabolic disorders. These include diabetes. These registries can be used by the relevant commissioning body to inform development of policies and services. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust produces an Annual report for the Severe Insulin Resistance service (the specialist metabolic medicine centre for lipodystrophy). This collects data on patients referred and treated and followed up within the service.

Lipodystrophy

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the estimated prevalence is of (a) generalised and (b) partial lipodystrophy in England.

Steve Brine: The prevalence of lipodystrophy varies from approximately 0.05 to 1 person per 100,000 of the population depending on the subtype. Applying the prevalence rates to the population of England suggests there could be approximately 712 people with lipodystrophy in England (82 people with generalised lipodystrophy and 630 people with partial lipodystrophy). However, we are unable to give a certain answer because NHS Digital’s Hospital Episode Statistics system does not hold information relating to prevalence.

Lipodystrophy

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total number was of patients diagnosed with (a) generalised and (b) partial lipodystrophy in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Steve Brine: NHS Digital’s Hospital Episode Statistics system has a record of 461 finished admission episodes for patients with a primary diagnosis of lipodystrophy for the years 2012-13 to 2016-17 (86 in 2013/13, 97 in 2013/14, 102 in 2014/15, 93 in 2015/16, and 83 in 2016/17).

Lipodystrophy

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidelines are used by NHS services for the diagnosis, referral and treatment of patients with (a) metabolic disorders and (d) generalised or partial lipodystrophy.

Steve Brine: Numerous gudielines are used by National Health Service services for the diagnosis, referral and treatment of patients with metabolic disorders. These can be found at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) website:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/conditions-and-diseases/diabetes-and-other-endocrinal--nutritional-and-metabolic-conditionsThere are no current NICE guidelines specific to generalised or partial lipodystrophy. NICE is currently developing guidance on the use of metreleptin for the treatment of lipodystrophy through its highly specialised technology evaluation programme. NICE currently expects to issue final guidance in September 2018. There is also a consensus statement entitled ‘The Diagnosis and Management of Lipodystrophy Syndromes: A Multi-Society Practice Guideline’ published in 2016 by Brown et al. which includes the team from the Severe Insulin Resistance service at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/101/12/4500/2764979/The-Diagnosis-and-Management-of-Lipodystrophy

Herceptin

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timetable is for the introduction of herceptin on the NHS as a treatment for (a) rare forms of cancer and (b) lacrimal gland carcinoma.

Steve Brine: Herceptin is currently licensed for use in the United Kingdom as a treatment for specific types of breast and gastric cancer, and has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in technology appraisal guidance for use in patients meeting specific clinical criteria. Herceptin is routinely available to eligible National Health Service patients in line with NICE’s recommendations. Herceptin is not currently licensed for other rare forms of cancer, including lacrimal gland carcinoma, and has therefore not been subject to NICE appraisal for these indications.

NHS Property Services

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library correspondence with NHS Property Services Limited on that company's proposals for an executive bonus for three directors in 2016-17.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Company’s proposals on Directors’ remuneration, including bonuses, are presented and considered at its Remuneration Committee, which includes the Shareholder Director, who is a Senior Civil Servant acting on behalf of the Secretary of State. The payments that result from the Committee’s decisions on pay and bonuses are made public in the Company’s annual report and accounts.

NHS Property Services

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason he approved the application by NHS Property Services Limited to extend the deadline set for the repayment of the loan by six months to 30 September 2018.

Mr Philip Dunne: The loan repayment term was varied to 30 September 2018 to ensure the company had sufficient working capital for a period of at least one year following approval of the statutory report and accounts for the 2016-17 financial year, which is in line with best practice for companies.

General Practitioners: Fees and Charges

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2017 to Question 9467, what assessment his Department has made of the risks involved in increasing the level of overdue practice service charges.

Mr Philip Dunne: The level of overdue practice service charges is currently being considered by a joint working party comprising NHS England, NHS Property Services and Community Health Partnerships.

NHS Property Services

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has given permission to relocate the main premises of NHS Property Services in London.

Mr Philip Dunne: This was an operational matter for the company and followed a full value-for-money options appraisal. Approval was given by the Department.

NHS Property and Estates Review

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with Sir Robert Naylor about implementing the recommendations in his review of NHS Estates.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 22 March 2017 to Question 67994, on NHS Property Services: Community Health Partnerships, if he will publish the business case for the proposed new NHS property organisation.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to implement the recommendations of Sir Robert Naylor's review of NHS Estates on the future of Community Health Partnerships and NHS Property Services Limited.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2017 to Question 4639, on NHS Property Services, what recent progress has been made in consideration of the recommendations of Sir Robert Naylor's review of the NHS Estate.

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 22 March 2017 to Question 67994, on NHS Property Services: Community Health Partnerships. what recent progress has been made in developing plans to establish a new NHS property organisation.

Mr Philip Dunne: NHS Property and Estates: why the estate matters for patients (the Naylor Review) is an independent report prepared for the Department and published on 31 March 2017. The report is available on the Department’s website at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-property-and-estates-naylor-review.The Government is giving careful consideration to the Review’s recommendations, including options for the establishment of a new NHS Property Board, and will respond in due course.

Poisoning: Accident and Emergency Departments

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were admitted via accident and emergency departments with a primary diagnosis of poisoning, including overdose, in each month of financial year (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14, (e) 2014-15, (f) 2015-16 and (g) 2016-17.

Mr Philip Dunne: A count of unplanned accident and emergency (A&E) attendances1 resulting in an admission2 and a primary diagnosis of poisoning (including overdose)3, for the financial years between 2010-11 and 2016-174 is provided in the table below. This is a count of hospital attendances resulting in admissions, not individual patients as the same person may have been admitted into a National Health Service hospital on more than one occasion.MonthYear 2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17April4,8885,0205,1835,4665,9376,1605,870May5,7585,5365,4996,2676,2526,4566,567June5,2855,5145,5446,4856,2136,5376,477July5,6425,8035,7466,7886,0456,7296,404August5,1405,6855,5686,2935,9336,4856,080September5,1575,6545,4175,7485,9405,9805,955October5,3505,8255,6346,1515,7416,3565,811November5,0005,2665,4275,9445,5266,0445,132December4,0565,3144,9345,6924,4595,3204,783January4,7205,5385,3226,2865,2125,6385,062February4,5344,9394,9895,7424,9275,4044,949March5,0745,5355,4206,4875,4315,2425,936Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Digital  1The following attendance category codes identify unplanned A&E attendances:1 = First A&E attendance3 = Follow-up A&E attendance - unplanned9 = Not known2Attendance disposal 01 = Admitted to hospital bed / become a lodged patient of the same health care provider.3The recording of the diagnosis field within the A&E data set is not mandatory. It is not known to what extent changes over time are as a result of improvements in recording practice.14 = Poisoning (including overdose)4HES figures are available from 2007-08 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. Note that HES include activity ending in the year in question and run from April to March, e.g. 2012-13 includes activity occurring between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013.

Gynaecology: Accident and Emergency Departments

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were admitted via accident and emergency departments with a primary diagnosis of a gynaecological condition in each month of financial year (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14, (e) 2014-15, (f) 2015-16 and (g) 2016-17.

Mr Philip Dunne: A count of unplanned accident and emergency (A&E) attendances1 resulting in an admission2 and a primary diagnosis of gynaecological conditions3, for the financial years between 2010-11 and 2016-174 is provided in the table below. This is a count of hospital attendances resulting in admissions, not individual patients as the same person may have been admitted into a National Health Service hospital on more than one occasion. MonthYear 2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17April3,0093,1463,5293,3793,9613,7263,851May3,1023,5813,5173,5914,1153,9603,985June3,0523,3213,4803,4423,8184,1273,982July3,0993,3663,5003,6633,8804,1614,036August2,9883,3053,5453,6783,8484,2144,006September2,8513,4603,1283,4223,9104,0714,181October2,8533,5663,5633,8134,0104,0764,067November2,8903,4473,3833,6583,8894,1503,676December2,4793,3803,2963,8473,5173,8133,736January2,8843,6183,6264,3623,6464,0703,900February2,6903,2273,3373,8373,1973,7503,583March3,1353,5573,5944,1863,5343,9974,008Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Digital Notes: 1The following attendance category codes identify unplanned A&E attendances:1 = First A&E attendance3 = Follow-up A&E attendance - unplanned9 = Not known2Attendance disposal 01 = Admitted to hospital bed / become a lodged patient of the same health care provider.3The recording of the diagnosis field within the A&E data set is not mandatory. It is not known to what extent changes over time are as a result of improvements in recording practice.29 = Gynaecological conditions4HES figures are available from 2007-08 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. Note that HES include activity ending in the year in question and run from April to March, e.g. 2012-13 includes activity occurring between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013.

Obesity: Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on the number of children diagnosed as obese in (a) 2015, (b) 2016 and (c) the first six months of 2017.

Steve Brine: Data on the number of children diagnosed as obese are not collected in the format requested.

Transplant Surgery: Stem Cells

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the availability of NHS post-stem cell transplant services for blood cancer patients.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Blood and marrow transplantation is divided into distinct phases of treatment. NHS England is responsible for funding the transplant related care which takes place 30 days before transplant and continues until 100 days post-transplant and includes critical care related to the transplant episode. The care needs of patients post-transplant will often continue beyond 100 days, particularly for recipients of allogenic transplants which involve the stem cells of another donor which can increase the chance of complications. Under most circumstances commissioning responsibility will usually switch from NHS England to the clinical commissioning groups as outlined in the Manual for Prescribed Specialised Services. The impact of cancer continues beyond the initial treatment. Patients may experience physical, financial, social and psychological issues. NHS England’s work in supporting the roll out of the Recovery Package for cancer patients, including those who received blood and marrow transplants, helps ensure patients have more personal care and support from the point they are diagnosed and once treatment ends. For patients this means working with their care team to develop a comprehensive plan outlining not only their physical needs, but also other support they may need, such as help at home or financial advice. By 2020 NHS England wants all cancer patients to have access to the Recovery Package and is committed to implementing this in collaboration with charities, professionals and patients themselves.

Prisons: Health Services

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2017 to Question 106453, what the timetable is for the report on prison health staff to be published.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The NHS England commissioned report looking at the workforce, market management and recruitment and retention in the adult prison and immigration removal centre estate in England will be published in the new year.

Pathology: Consultants

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2017 to Question 105321, for what reason that information is not collected centrally; and if he will make it his policy to ensure that such information is collected in future in order to inform future workforce planning.

Mr Philip Dunne: The information is not held centrally because of difficulties surrounding accurate identification of the specific sub-group of cellular pathologists. “Cellular pathology” (also known as histopathology and cytopathology) is not a single specialty, but describes the group of pathology specialties that study changes in cells and tissues to make a diagnosis. It includes 20 subspecialties, such as neuropathology, dermatopathology and haematopathology. Of these, the National Workforce Dataset, the data standards that underpin workforce data across the National Health Service only separately identifies histopathology. Since mid-2017, the Workforce Information Review Group, led by NHS Digital, have been in discussion with the Royal College of Pathologists with a view to describing the pathology workforce better in the National Workforce Dataset. It is anticipated that changes will be considered by the Data Coordination Board in early to mid-2018, with implementation in systems such as the Electronic Staff Record, the human resources and payroll system used across the NHS, roughly six months after approval.

Obesity: Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on the Government's calorie reduction programme.

Steve Brine: In August 2017 Public Health England (PHE) was commissioned by the Government to start work on a programme to reduce calorie intakes. The programme will seek to remove excess calories from the foods children consume the most. PHE is currently considering the evidence for calorie reduction and will publish a report in early 2018. This report will set out the health and economic benefits for reducing children’s calorie intakes and the results of early discussions with the food industry and public health organisations. PHE will publish detailed calorie reduction guidelines for food categories later in 2018. Details of the programme can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/news/next-stage-of-world-leading-childhood-obesity-plan-announced

NHS Shared Business Services

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2017 to Question 105521, on NHS Shared Business Services, if he will publish the agreement reached between NHS England and NHS Shared Business Services; and what the costs will be for each of those organisations.

Jackie Doyle-Price: There are no current plans to publish the written agreement between NHS England and NHS Shared Business Services. However, as confirmed to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee on 16 October 2017, NHS Shared Business Services will be responsible for meeting the entire costs relating to the incident - £6.6 million.

Health Services

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 13 September 2017 to Question 8617, whether policy proposals that have not yet been endorsed by a clinical reference group will be eligible for consideration at NHS England's Clinical Priorities Advisory Group meeting in May 2018.

Steve Brine: In order to be eligible to be considered by the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group, policy propositions first need to be endorsed by a Clinical Reference Group, and go through the ‘Clinical Build’ and Impact Analysis phases. All proposals that have been considered and approved by the relevant Policy Working Group, following the period of public consultation, will go forward to the relative prioritisation event. If the new proposal has not completed these steps and/or is not fully signed off as complete by the Policy Working Group they will not be ready to go in to the prioritisation process. NHS England publishes details of the clinical commissioning policies being developed and/or revised. Further details on NHS England’s service development process and prioritisation process are available on NHS England’s website.